Housing markets

It has become the 29th state to bar NTRAP contracts, with Illinois' legislation on it pending the governor's signature, according to American Land Title Association data.

Total housing starts increased 3% to a 1.35 million annualized rate last month, driven by a 19.6% surge in multifamily construction, according to government data released Wednesday.

Refinance transactions shot up over 15% to their highest volume in almost two years, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Some commenters on the Federal Housing Finance Agency's request for input about the Federal Home Loan Bank system mission demand more focus on affordable housing while others firmly advocated against member incentive programs.

Confidence among U.S. homebuilders fell for a third straight month in July as elevated interest rates weighed on sales and kept construction financing costs high.

The National Association of Realtors was looking to reverse the April decision from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals that allowed the Justice Department to reopen its probe into the group.

While the pace of consumer inflation is showing signs of slowing, building material costs are running counter to the trend, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Rising inflation has been an issue across the country, but these are the cities with the greatest challenges.

The new regulation goes into effect in early 2025 for properties financed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

Shares of real estate companies jumped as much as 3.1% Thursday for their biggest intraday gain of 2024, climbing to their highest level since March as investors snap up homebuilder, digital and commercial real estate stocks alike.

A trio of Federal Home Loan Banks this week publicized endeavors related to their affordable housing mission shortly after their regulator put out a request for input on that topic.

A growing number of states are tackling affordability struggles for middle-income renters, who have experienced the fastest increases in cost burdens over the past 20 years.

Declining refinance activity offset the growth in government-backed purchases, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Financial security is a concern for 31% respondents who said they feel less well-off than their parents or grandparents, a Nationwide survey found.

More than 50% of aspiring buyers expect their next purchase will cost less than the latest median value, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

The bank acquired these business purpose non-qualified mortgage loans originated by Civic Financial Services in the PacWest Bancorp deal.

June housing market data from Redfin found home prices hit a new all-time high. Fortunately, monthly mortgage payments decreased and new listings were up 10%.

Ongoing challenges from limited inventory levels and elevated prices likely spells little lending momentum this summer, Mortgage Capital Trading said in its latest report.

The overall Bureau of Labor Statistics number was a tad higher than expected but other indicators point to economic weakness that could lower mortgage rates.

The rate at which Gen Z is charting a new course by teaming up with people who aren't related or romantic partners is soaring as homeownership hurdles rise.